Panel support



Aug. 2, 1932.I J. w. RoDAcK 4 PANEL SUPPORT Filed march 9. 1929 Patented Aug. 2, 1932 JAMES W. EoDAoK, 0E orrieaeo, rnnrnors'assrenon, ier-,MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To Y WOODALL INDUSTRIES, INCO,RPOBA'IEl), OE DETROIT, MICHIGAN PANEL surronir 4f Application med March 9, 1929. seriai- No. 345,725.'

The present invention relates to panel supports, of the type which may be generally designated as easels and has for its object the provision of such a device that will be rigid and durable, and that at the saine time may be readily attached to or removed from the panel.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view,`

as will be apparent, this invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a panel illustrating the present invention inY conjunction therewith;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 1 illustrating the cooperaion between the panel and the support there- Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l is a perspective View of the` bracket secured to the panel; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the easel or supporting device which cooperates with the bracket. l 'Y Heretofore in attaching supports to panels such as signs, plaques, pictures and simi-V lar articles, it has been generally customary to provide the panel with a back to which the supporting structure is attached, usually in the. approximate center or above the center of such back. These devices have been eX- pensive as well as inconvenient as to the method of attaching them and in collapsing them for shipping purposes. Furthermore, devices of this character have in no way provided a protection for the edges of thepanel being supported, the edges thereof being usually in contact upon the table. or counter or other platform upon which the article is exhibited.

The present invention is designed to provide a support for a panel such as a plaque, sign or picture, which does not involve the use of a back or backing for the panel and which, at the same time, provides a protection for the supporting edge of the article.

'Further1nore, the present invention is designed to provide such a support of a. character that can be easily and readily attachedV to the panela'nd which can be detached and collapsed forshipping the article.

Referencebeing hadmore particularly to the drawings," 10 ldesignates a panel which may be a picture, sign, plaque or any other similar article. A bracketk B illustrated in Fig. l is'secure'd to the lower edge of the' panel 10,.and vcomprises a body 11 having a., lateral extension-12 along one edge which passes under the lower edge of the panel 10 and is provided with a ange V13 at its outer edge which is parallel to the body of the' bracket 11.` Whenthe bracket B is in position the right angular extension 12 rests against the lower edge of the panel 10 while the body 11 of thebracket rests flush against? therear wall thereof and the flange 13, rests parallel to the body 11 and against the facey ofthe panel 10. lBy exerting a'pressure upon the body 11 and the flange 13, the bracket may be rapidly and 'securely attached to the 'lower' edge of the panel l10. If desired, the

may be secured tothe panel over the binder Vor may constitute a part of the binder, the

rear 'side of the binder being extended to actin lieu'of the body 11 of the bracket.

At'eaclrend of the body 11 of the bracket is provided a socket 15 which is formed fromv the body` 11 ofthe bracket and integrally therewith. These sockets 15 project outwardly froml theplaneof the body11 of the bracket and constitute means whereby-the easel or supporting vdevice may be secured to the panel 10. Cooperating with the bracket is an easel or support-'comprising a U-shaped frame 16 at the; ends of the arms of which are formed a pair of'outstanding upwardly projecting tongues 17 designed to be received in the sockets 15 formed in or carried by the bracket B. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the positioning of the tongues 17 in the sockets 15 of the body 11 of the bracket B, positions the frame 16 against the rear face of thepanel 10 so that 'the base ofthe frame 16 is located above the approximate horizontal center of the panel 10. In other words the frame 16 constitutes-a reinforcing -backfor-the'panel 10 and extends substantially-throughoutthe major portion of the height of said panel. .Y

To constitute a support for the framel 16 and through it for the panel 10, the baseof the frame or that part thereof joining or connecti'ng the legspof the frame 16,-has securedv thereto ay leg18 which, when in use occupies aposition at an angle tothe frame 16s/o thatV it constitutes an angularly disposedsupport for the frame 16 and through it for the panel 10. Atits lower end the legelSis provided with a laterally disposed foot 19. v

From the foregoingit is apparent that the frame`16 maybe-readily attached to anddetached from the bracket B which isfor all intents and purposes permanently secured to the panel 10. When lin its operative position and cooperatingwith the bracket B, .the frame 16 rests flush against the rear face of the panely 10 and the tongues 17 thereofare snugly embraced by the sockets 15 of said bracket.. When itis desired to ship or pack the panel with its easel or supportingstructure, the leg; 18 may occupy a position coplanar withtheframe 16 so that the panel and its supporting structure occupy substantially the same space as does the panel alone. By adjusting; theA angle of the leg,18 to the frame 16, the anglei of 'the panel 10 to the horizontalpmay bedetermined.

It will be observed that the extension 12 ofk the bracket B rests under the lower edge of" the panel 10 and slightly elevates the same` thereby protecting the lower-edges of' the panel.

Manifestly the present invention provides a simple, inexpensive panel support, which may be easily and readily placed in position, and yet possesses all of the strength and advantages of the more complicated and -expensive supports of a likefcharacter.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a panel, of a; bracket cooperating with one edge of said panel, comprising a body `rest-ing against the rear vface of said panel, an extension projecting laterallyufrom said body and a flange carried by said extension and resting against the front face of said panel, outstanding sockets on said bracket, a supporting frame, tongues on said franiefon reception in said sockets,-` anda-leg secured to said frame to be positionedat an yangle thereto.

Q. Incombination with anreasel having a pl-uralitybf ,spaced apart .projecting lugs on l the lower front face thereof and a pivoted supporting leg, a bracket having a channel like base adapted to firmly seat a plaque, said bracket including a portion adapted to lie flush with the rear face of said plaque across asubstantial portion of its width, and means projectinglrearwardly therefrom vadapted to cooperate with the projecting lugs of said supporting easel.

- JAMES RODACK." 

